ST. LOUIS _ Though it may be too little too late, the Mets expect several of their banged-up key players to ramp up their efforts to come off the disabled list.
According to pitching coach Dan Warthen, staff ace Noah Syndergaard (torn right lat) is set to begin throwing in less than two weeks. Meanwhile, Warthen said Matt Harvey (stress injury right shoulder) will begin his own throwing program when the Mets resume play after the All-Star break.
Harvey went on the DL on June 15 after a start in which his fastball barely cracked 90 mph. The righty went 4-3 with a 5.25 ERA in his first season after surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome.
Warthen said Sunday that the procedure left Harvey with weakness in the muscles behind his throwing shoulder, which led to problems as he tried to pitch during the first half. Only after Harvey went on the DL did doctors discover that the muscles behind the pitcher's right shoulder were roughly half the size of those on his left, Warthen said.
"It totally atrophied," he said. "He didn't have the strength to maintain, so his bullpens wouldn't be good. The first inning would be good and then all of a sudden that thing wouldn't work, it wouldn't fire. That's been the whole thing. We've been building that back up the whole time."
Closer Jeurys Familia (blood clot in right arm) is set to begin a throwing program at the All-Star break, though it remains unclear when the Mets' injured arms will return to action.
In the case of Syndergaard, Warthen raised the possibility of using the righty in relief once healthy. He said that discussion will revolve around the team's needs and whether they are in contention.
"If we decide we want to go get Syndergaard back earlier but use him as a one-inning guy, we'll all talk about that," Warthen said.
Right-hander Robert Gsellman (strained left hamstring) must still make more progress before beginning a throwing program.
"He's again doing the rehab stuff and making sure his leg's OK," manager Terry Collins said. "But we can't do too much throwing-wise until we know his legs are going to be able to handle it."
Second baseman Neil Walker traveled to Florida after Saturday's game in hopes of increasing his workload ahead of a minor-league rehab assignment.
Said Collins: "Hopefully, in a short period of time, he'll be back in the mix."
The Mets ended the first half 39-47, eight games under .500, and with their percentage chance of making the playoffs reduced to single digits.
